The U.K. 70s Singles & Albums Chart General Discussion Thread.

I think there was a good chance that Marc would have worked with Tony Visconti again.
A few days before he died Tony and David Bowie called in at a central London recording studio we’re Marc was recording. Unfortunately Marc wasn’t there at the time but it seems likely that they would have reconnected at some point.
That would have been Marc’s best chance to become successful again as they made great records together.

Tony has said just recently on Facebook that he wants to work on the three T.Rex albums that he didn’t produce, as he thought the mix or production wasn’t right on them.
Of the three albums Futuristic Dragon is my favourite. It featured Marc’s strongest collection of songs in ages, but it missed Tony’s magic touch. Let’s see if it comes off.

 

Futuristic Dragon is one of my favourites. We're in a small club with our application, which I can never understand. I always find it a bright, cheery, feel good album. I love it.

 

That’s the other thing. As a producer, Mr. Bolan was no Tony Visconti. The point at which they split up, it could be argued, marked the beginning of the end for Marc.

 

Application? I meant appreciation. What am I like!

 

Le’me guess: the 30-minute window closed by the time you recognised the error?

 

Oh, always the way, isn't it? I did it on my phone, that's the problem.

 

This Saturday I reached for my Russian Federation copy of Baccara´s debut album. I hadn´t played it for years, and I wondered how I´d feel about it now. I played it a lot - when i was twelve. When I retired it, it remained retired.

The opening was "Yes Sir, I Can Boogie", and I remembered the excitement when I first heard it. Nostalgia set in. "Sorry I´m a Lady" is basically the same song, The rest of the album? Well, about as bad as I remembered it to be. The songs that I had thought of as "almost good" were less interesting than I remembered them to have been. Like, not at all. Second-rate pop filler.

Good to be reminded that nostalgia sometimes colour the songs as better than they actually are. It will probably be another twenty years before I play this album again - should I still be around by then.

 

Well if HM Queen Elizabeth II can live until 96 then there’s no reason why you can’t…

 

Hm... What are you implying? That comparison is.... Funny.

 

Now to compare and contrast a random set of charts from both sides of the pond from this day . . . in 1973. As always, UK first:

Week Ending 15 September 1973

05 - 01 - 01 - Donny Osmond - YOUNG LOVE
03 - 03 - 02 - Wizzard - ANGEL FINGERS (A TEEN BALLAD)
05 - 06 - 03 - David Essex - ROCK ON
08 - 02 - 04 - Barry Blue - DANCIN' (ON A SATURDAY NIGHT)
03 - 09 - 05 - The Rolling Stones - ANGIE
11 - 05 - 06 - Al Martino - SPANISH EYES
02 - 22 - 07 - Rod Stewart - OH! NO NOT MY BABY
05 - 10 - 08 - Hudson-Ford - PICK UP THE PIECES
09 - 07 - 09 - Limmie And Family Cookin' - YOU CAN DO MAGIC
04 - 14 - 10 - 10 C.C. - THE DEAN AND I
07 - 08 - 11 - The Drifters - LIKE SISTER AND BROTHER
07 - 12 - 12 - Dawn Featuring Tony Orlando - SAY, HAS ANYBODY SEEN MY SWEET GYPSY ROSE
07 - 20 - 13 - Roger Daltrey With London Symphony Orchestra And English Chamber Choir - I'M FREE
07 - 11 - 14 - Bobby Goldsboro - SUMMER (THE FIRST TIME)
06 - 19 - 15 - Elvis Presley - FOOL
11 - 04 - 16 - Carpenters - YESTERDAY ONCE MORE
17 - 15 - 17 - Peters And Lee - WELCOME HOME
05 - 24 - 18 - Guy Darrell - I'VE BEEN HURT
07 - 16 - 19 - First Choice - SMARTY PANTS
07 - 13 - 20 - Medicine Head - RISING SUN
03 - 30 - 21 - Bobby (Boris) Pickett And The Crypt-Kickers - MONSTER MASH
06 - 18 - 22 - Roy Wood - DEAR ELAINE
02 - 40 - 23 - Mott The Hoople - ALL THE WAY FROM MEMPHIS
04 - 26 - 24 - Perry Como - FOR THE GOOD TIMES
09 - 17 - 25 - Gary Glitter - I'M THE LEADER OF THE GANG (I AM!)
02 - 39 - 26 - Manfred Mann's Earthband - JOYBRINGER
02 - 38 - 27 - Jackson Five - SKYWRITER
02 - 44 - 28 - Status Quo - CAROLINE
09 - 21 - 29 - New York City - I'M DOIN' FINE NOW
06 - 27 - 30 - Detroit Emeralds - I THINK OF YOU
1 - NEW - 31 - Gilbert O'Sullivan - OOH BABY
02 - 47 - 32 - Ike And Tina Turner - NUTBUSH CITY LIMITS
10 - 25 - 33 - Diana Ross - TOUCH ME IN THE MORNING
04 - 32 - 34 - Geordie - ELECTRIC LADY
08 - 23 - 35 - Suzi Quatro - 48 CRASH
03 - 34 - 36 - Stealers Wheel - EVERYTHING WILL TURN OUT FINE
04 - 31 - 37 - Neil Sedaka - OUR LAST SONG TOGETHER
12 - 29 - 38 - David Bowie - LIFE ON MARS?
09 - 33 - 39 - The Goons - YING TONG SONG
11 - 28 - 40 - Mungo Jerry - ALRIGHT, ALRIGHT, ALRIGHT
28 - 43 - 41 - Dawn Featuring Tony Orlando - TIE A YELLOW RIBBON ROUND THE OLE OAK TREE
1 - NEW - 42 - David Bowie - THE LAUGHING GNOME
22 - 41 - 43 - Perry Como - AND I LOVE YOU SO
02 - 49 - 44 - Aretha Franklin - ANGEL
10 - 36 - 45 - The Osmonds - GOIN' HOME
09 - 35 - 46 - Nazareth - BAD, BAD BOY
09 - 37 - 47 - Free - ALL RIGHT NOW
03 - RE - 48 - The Simon Park Orchestra - EYE LEVEL
14 - RE - 49 - Wings - LIVE AND LET DIE
13 - 45 - 50 - Mud - HYPNOSIS

then the U.S. ( * = made or would make both countries' charts; ** = never did or would):

Week Ending 15 September 1973

13 - 03 - 01 - Helen Reddy - DELTA DAWN**
10 - 01 - 02 - Marvin Gaye - LET'S GET IT ON*
10 - 04 - 03 - Dawn Featuring Tony Orlando - SAY, HAS ANYBODY SEEN MY SWEET GYPSY ROSE*
07 - 06 - 04 - Paul Simon - LOVES ME LIKE A ROCK*
08 - 08 - 05 - Grand Funk - WE'RE AN AMERICAN BAND**
13 - 02 - 06 - Stories - BROTHER LOUIE**
16 - 05 - 07 - Diana Ross - TOUCH ME IN THE MORNING*
09 - 09 - 08 - War - GYPSY MAN**
11 - 07 - 09 - Wings - LIVE AND LET DIE*
11 - 10- 10 - Al Green - HERE I AM (COME AND TAKE ME)**
07 - 22 - 11 - Chér - HALF-BREED**
07 - 16 - 12 - Elton John - SATURDAY NIGHT'S ALRIGHT FOR FIGHTING*
05 - 18 - 13 - Stevie Wonder - HIGHER GROUND*
08 - 20 - 14 - B.W. Stevenson - MY MARIA**
10 - 17 - 15 - Isley Brothers - THAT LADY (PART 1)*
12 - 04 - 16 - Sly And The Family Stone - IF YOU WANT ME TO STAY**
13 - 13 - 17 - Gilbert O'Sullivan - GET DOWN*
13 - 11 - 18 - Maureen McGovern - THE MORNING AFTER**
13 - 14 - 19 - Chicago - FEELIN' STRONGER EVERY DAY**
13 - 19 - 20 - Johnnie Taylor - I BELIEVE IN YOU (YOU BELIEVE IN ME)**
04 - 35 - 21 - The Allman Brothers Band - RAMBLIN' MAN**
08 - 24 - 22 - Joe Simon Featuring The Main Streeters - THEME FROM "CLEOPATRA JONES"**
24 - 26 - 23 - Kris Kristofferson - WHY ME**
05 - 42 - 24 - The Doobie Brothers - CHINA GROVE**
11 - 23 - 25 - Aretha Franklin - ANGEL*
13 - 15 - 26 - Four Tops - ARE YOU MAN ENOUGH**
06 - 37- 27 - The Edgar Winter Group - FREE RIDE**
05 - 34 - 28 - The Pointer Sisters - YES WE CAN CAN**
05 - 30 - 29 - [Detroit] Spinners - GHETTO CHILD*
04 - 41 - 30 - Eddie Kendricks - KEEP ON TRUCKIN'*
23 - 25 - 31 - Bobby (Boris) Pickett And The Crypt-Kickers - MONSTER MASH*
12 - 28 - 32 - Charlie Daniels - UNEASY RIDER**
03 - 55 - 33 - Gladys Knight And The Pips - MIDNIGHT TRAIN TO GEORGIA*
07 - 36 - 34 - Barry White - I'VE GOT SO MUCH TO GIVE**
06 - 43 - 35 - Conway Twitty - YOU'VE NEVER BEEN THIS FAR BEFORE**
05 - 39 - 36 - The Temptations - HEY GIRL (I LIKE YOUR STYLE)**
22 - 21 - 37 - Jim Croce - BAD, BAD LEROY BROWN**
07 - 31 - 38 - The Chi-Lites - STONED OUT OF MY MIND**
10 - 27 - 39 - Donny Osmond - A MILLION TO ONE** / YOUNG LOVE*
14 - 29 - 40 - Bobby Womack - NOBODY WANTS YOU WHEN YOU'RE DOWN AND OUT**
08 - 32 - 41 - Tyrone Davis - THERE IT IS**
11 - 48 - 42 - Jackie Moore - SWEET CHARLIE BABE**
05 - 60 - 43 - Cross Country - IN THE MIDNIGHT HOUR**
06 - 56 - 44 - Joe Walsh - ROCKY MOUNTAIN WAY*
03 - 62 - 45 - The Jackson 5 - GET IT TOGETHER**
07 - 46 - 46 - B.B. King - TO KNOW YOU IS TO LOVE YOU**
09 - 57 - 47 - Looking Glass - JIMMY LOVES MARY-ANNE**
04 - 73 - 48 - Deodato - RHAPSODY IN BLUE**
06 - 49 - 49 - Ohio Players - ECSTASY**
07 - 54 - 50 - Earth, Wind And Fire - EVIL**

and whatever crossovers between UK and U.S. there were this week:

#1 UK = #39 U.S. (B side only)
#12 UK = #3 U.S.
#21 UK = #31 U.S.
#33 UK = #7 U.S.
#44 UK = #25 U.S.
#49 UK = #9 U.S.
(#5 UK = #55 U.S.)
(#14 UK = #71 U.S.)
(#32 UK = #78 U.S.)

 

The best 70's hit instrumental was Groovin' with Mr Bloe, by Mr Bloe. Hands down. Just a co-incidence it's also nearly my name.

 

She never really troubled the charts, but does any of the assembled masses recall Judi Pulver? I saw supporting Mott the Hoople in '74 and enjoyed her set. Meant to pick up her then album, 'Pulver Rising' but with one thing and another, forgot. Then she was gone. There's a couple of youtube and ebay mentions but nothing on WIKI.
Anyone any info, any memories?

 

Haven’t a clue.

 

I feel I should buy it for the title alone

EG.

 

Now we spotlight another British act who scored in the U.S. with a hit (albeit minor - #44) that totally stiffed in the UK . . . "We're On Our Way" by Chris Hodge, from 1972:

 

Think I'd bring up a review from U.S. Billboard of a single that was #1 in the UK earlier in 1974, but ultimately didn't do bupkis in the States. From the Sept. 28, 1974 ish:

SUZI QUATRO—Devil Gate Drive (3:46); producers: Mike Chapman & Nicky Chinn; writers: Chinn-Chapman; publisher: Chinnichap-Rak, ASCAP. Bell 45,609. Quite possibly the most commercial thing Ms. Quatro has come up with yet, this excellent hard rocker leaves lots of room for audience participation and should be welcomed instantly on the AM formats. A good fun record, and the timing is right considering she has just wound up a successful tour here.​

As if!

 

Sadly, Suzi never achieved the success she deserved in her home country. (Apart from that little duet with Chris Norman.) She´s so full of life - still! - and I would have loved for her to enjoy success in the US. A force of nature, she is, I believe Yoda was quoted as saying. May the natural force be with us for a long time.

 

Now to go 48 years ago today to 28 September 1974, to see how the differing scenes of the UK and U.S. were. The underpinnings of the overall UK chart malaise that would manifest itself in 1975-76 were being built up as we speak, as we will see now . . . plus the collapse of glam that was hastened by the June-August 1974 TOTP strike . . .

Week Ending 28 September 1974

07 - 01 - 01 - Carl Douglas - KUNG FU FIGHTING
07 - 03 - 02 - John Denver - ANNIE'S SONG
06 - 04 - 03 - Johnny Bristol - HANG ON IN THERE BABY
06 - 02 - 04 - The Osmonds - LOVE ME FOR A REASON
08 - 06 - 05 - Sylvia (Vrethammar) - Y VIVA ESPANA
05 - 07 - 06 - Alvin Stardust - YOU YOU YOU
07 - 09 - 07 - K.C. And The Sunshine Band - QUEEN OF CLUBS
07 - 08 - 08 - Barry White - CAN'T GET ENOUGH OF YOUR LOVE, BABE
06 - 22 - 09 - Andy Kim - ROCK ME GENTLY
03 - 23 - 10 - Leo Sayer - LONG TALL GLASSES (I CAN DANCE)
09 - 05 - 11 - Donny And Marie Osmond - I'M LEAVING IT (ALL) UP TO YOU
06 - 14 - 12 - Diana Ross And The Supremes - BABY LOVE
06 - 11 - 13 - Paper Lace - THE BLACK-EYED BOYS
08 - 10 - 14 - Cozy Powell - NA NA NA
03 - 34 - 15 - Sweet Sensation - SAD SWEET DREAMER
03 - 33 - 16 - Peter Shelley - GEE BABY
05 - 21 - 17 - Bryan Ferry - SMOKE GETS IN YOUR EYES
10 - 12 - 18 - Jimmy Ruffin - WHAT BECOMES OF THE BROKENHEARTED
06 - 24 - 19 - Cat Stevens - ANOTHER SATURDAY NIGHT
1 - NEW - 20 - Bowie - KNOCK ON WOOD
12 - 15 - 21 - The Three Degrees - WHEN WILL I SEE YOU AGAIN
04 - 28 - 22 - Brian Protheroe - PINBALL
03 - 25 - 23 - Elton John - THE BITCH IS BACK
12 - 17 - 24 - The Stylistics - YOU MAKE ME FEEL BRAND NEW
06 - 26 - 25 - The Commodores - MACHINE GUN
04 - 27 - 26 - The Kiki Dee Band - I'VE GOT THE MUSIC IN ME
11 - 13 - 27 - Sweet Dreams - HONEY HONEY
03 - 30 - 28 - 10 c.c. - SILLY LOVE
07 - 16 - 29 - Showaddywaddy - ROCK 'N' ROLL LADY
04 - 29 - 30 - Don Covay - IT'S BETTER TO HAVE (AND DON'T NEED)
02 - 50 - 31 - The Tymes - YOU LITTLE TRUSTMAKER
02 - 44 - 32 - Andy Fairweather-Low - REGGAE TUNE
02 - 47 - 33 - Reunion - LIFE IS A ROCK (BUT THE RADIO ROLLED ME)
08 - 20 - 34 - Cockney Rebel - MR. SOFT
02 - 48 - 35 - Ken Boothe - EVERYTHING I OWN
09 - 18 - 36 - Bobby Goldsboro - HELLO SUMMERTIME
04 - 39 - 37 - Tom Jones - SOMETHIN' 'BOUT YOU BABY I LIKE
06 - 37 - 38 - Roberta Flack - FEEL LIKE MAKIN' LOVE
10 - 31 - 39 - Bay City Rollers - SUMMERLOVE SENSATION
07 - 19 - 40 - Peters And Lee - RAINBOW
14 - 32 - 41 - George McCrae - ROCK YOUR BABY
1 - NEW - 42 - Santana - SAMBA PA TI
02 - 46 - 43 - R. Dean Taylor - GOTTA SEE JANE
1 - NEW - 44 - Paul Anka - (YOU'RE) HAVING MY BABY
03 - 45 - 45 - Polly Brown - UP IN A PUFF OF SMOKE
10 - 35 - 46 - The Hues Corporation - ROCK THE BOAT
1 - NEW - 47 - Diana Ross - LOVE ME
05 - 36 - 48 - R. Dean Taylor - WINDOW SHOPPING
02 - 49 - 49 - Syreeta - SPINNIN' AND SPINNIN'
1 - NEW - 50 - Robert Wyatt - I'M A BELIEVER

And now for what " 'muricans" were digging (with * indicating what carted or would chart in the UK, ** what didn't):

Week Ending 28 September 1974

15 - 02 - 01 - Andy Kim - ROCK ME GENTLY*
07 - 03 - 02 - Olivia Newton-John - I HONESTLY LOVE YOU*
12 - 04 - 03 - Billy Preston - NOTHING FROM NOTHING**
10 - 06 - 04 - Dionne Warwicke And [Detroit] Spinners - THEN CAME YOU*
11 - 12 - 05 - First Class - BEACH BABY*
09 - 09 - 06 - Stevie Wonder - YOU HAVEN'T DONE NOTHIN'*
11 - 08 - 07 - The Guess Who - CLAP FOR THE WOLFMAN**
09 - 11 - 08 - Cat Stevens - ANOTHER SATURDAY NIGHT*
14 - 10 - 09 - Johnny Bristol - HANG ON IN THERE BABY*
10 - 14 - 10 - Lynyrd Skynyrd - SWEET HOME ALABAMA*
08 - 19 - 11 - Cheech And Chong - EARACHE MY EYE FEATURING ALICE BOWIE**
09 - 01 - 12 - Barry White - CAN'T GET ENOUGH OF YOUR LOVE, BABE*
12 - 05 - 13 - Eric Clapton - I SHOT THE SHERIFF*
13 - 07 - 14 - Paul Anka - (YOU'RE) HAVING MY BABY*
10 - 15 - 15 - Bo Donaldson And The Heywoods - WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE**
07 - 20 - 16 - Bad Company - CAN'T GET ENOUGH*
06 - 21 - 17 - Blue Swede - NEVER MY LOVE**
07 - 22 - 18 - The Tymes - YOU LITTLE TRUSTMAKER*
06 - 25 - 19 - Tony Orlando And Dawn - STEPPIN' OUT (GONNA BOOGIE TONIGHT)**
06 - 26 - 20 - Mac Davis - STOP AND SMELL THE ROSES**
04 - 27 - 21 - Ohio Players - SKIN TIGHT**
10 - 23 - 22 - Joni Mitchell - FREE MAN IN PARIS**
05 - 29 - 23 - Carole King - JAZZMAN**
04 - 30 - 24 - Elton John - THE BITCH IS BACK*
09 - 28 - 25 - Charlie Rich - I LOVE MY FRIEND**
06 - 32 - 26 - The Miracles - DO IT BABY**
05 - 37 - 27 - The Osmonds - LOVE ME FOR A REASON*
13 - 13 - 28 - Donny And Marie Osmond - I'M LEAVING IT (ALL) UP TO YOU*
09 - 16 - 29 - The Rolling Stones - IT'S ONLY ROCK 'N ROLL (BUT I LIKE IT)*
16 - 17 - 30 - Helen Reddy - YOU ONO ME AGAINST THE WORLD**
06 - 38 - 31 - James Brown - PAPA DON'T TAKE NO MESS - PART 1**
06 - 40 - 32 - America - TIN MAN**
06 - 39 - 33 - The Souther, Hillman, Furay Band - FALLIN' IN LOVE**
16 - 24 - 34 - Rufus - TELL ME SOMETHING GOOD**
10 - 18 - 35 - The Stylistics - LET'S PUT IT ALL TOGETHER*
09 - 18 - 36 - The Beach Boys - SURFIN' U.S.A.*
06 - 44 - 37 - Marilyn Sellars - ONE DAY AT A TIME**
15 - 33 - 38 - Roberta Flack - FEEL LIKE MAKIN' LOVE*
13 - 36 - 39 - Jim Stafford - WILDWOOD WEED**
04 - 51 - 40 - Reunion - LIFE IS A ROCK (BUT THE RADIO ROLLED ME)*
16 - 31 - 41 - Paper Lace - THE NIGHT CHICAGO DIED*
04 - 54 - 42 - The Righteous Brothers - GIVE IT TO THE PEOPLE**
14 - 34 - 43 - Billy "Crash" Craddock - RUB IT IN**
16 - 35 - 44 - Fancy - WILD THING**
04 - 55 - 45 - Steppenwolf - STRAIGHT SHOOTIN' WOMAN**
05 - 56 - 46 - Gordon Lightfoot - CAREFREE HIGHWAY**
05 - 53 - 47 - Aretha Franklin - AIN'T NOTHING LIKE THE REAL THING**
05 - 59 - 48 - Brownsville Station - KINGS OF THE PARTY**
02 - 65 - 49 - Bachman-Turner Overdrive - YOU AIN'T SEEN NOTHING YET*
02 - 70 - 50 - John Denver - BACK HOME AGAIN**

And of course, the crossovers:

#3 UK = #9 U.S.
#4 UK = #27 U.S.
#8 UK = #12 U.S.
#9 UK = #1 U.S.
#11 UK = #28 U.S.
#19 UK = #8 U.S.
#23 UK = #24 U.S.
#31 UK = #18 U.S.
#33 UK = #40 U.S.
#38 UK = #38 U.S.
#44 UK = #14 U.S.
(#21 UK = #94 U.S.)
(#26 UK = #66 U.S.)

Also . . . ABBA's "Honey Honey" is at #61, whilst Sweet Dreams' version is at #71.

 

As for what this week in 1974 was #7 on the UK chart, it was reviewed in the same week's Billboard ish' thus:

K.C. & THE SUNSHINE BAND—Queen of Clubs (3:01); producer: Richard Finch: writers: H.W. Casey-W. Clarke; publisher: Sherlyn, BMI. T.K. 1005. The writers of "Rock Your Baby" show some real talent of their own on this topnotch dance tune featuring excellent vocal harmonies, a powerful horn background and interesting instrumental breaks. Could cross into pop. Flip: Do It Good (2:25); producer: same; writers: H.W. Casey-R. Finch-B. Wright; publisher: same.​

 

And what was #13 in the UK:

PAPER LACE—The Black-Eyed Boys (3:45); producers: Mitch Murray & Peter Callander; writers: M. Murray, P. Callander; publisher: Murray-Callander, ASCAP. Mercury 73620. From the group that hit number one with "The Night Chicago Died" comes another infectious, goodtime rocker complete with bouncy backup vocals and a saxophone that jumps in and out to add to the flavor. Title makes for instant book and this one should jump immediately on to most AM playlists.​

 

Bo Donaldson's Who Do You Think Yo Are is indeed a cover version of the UK hit earlier this year from Candlewick Green. They seemed to find success in covering UK hits that didn't take off across the pond by the original artists. Anyway, here's the UK version.



Edit 2: Jigsaw, later of Sky High fame, covered this song as well.

 

There were so many...

Jig-A-Jig - East Of Eden
I Will Return - Springwater
Popcorn - Hot Butter
Pepper Box - Peppers
Machine Gun - Commodores
Disco Connection - Isaac Hayes Disco Movement
Magic Fly - Space
Oxgene Pt. IV - Jean-Michel Jarre
The Crunch - The Rah Band
The Shuffle - Van McCoy
Music Box Dancer - Frank Mills (beautiful)

Plus mostly instrumentals like 'The Hustle', 'Pick Up The Pieces', 'Sound And Vision', the CCS version of 'Whole Lotta Love'...

 

And here's the original by Wind.

 

No Mouldy Old Dough?